Lawmakers don’t approve any amendments before end of session

Dozens of proposals to change the state Constitution were up for consideration by lawmakers this session. In the end, they all fell short of reaching the ballot.

Matt Hopf and John Guidroz

Dozens of proposals to change the state Constitution were up for consideration by lawmakers this session. In the end, they all fell short of reaching the ballot.

Friday was the effective deadline for proposed constitutional amendments to be approved by lawmakers for voters to consider in November, and lawmakers left town with nothing approved.

That means voters will only be asked to make one constitutional change this fall, on whether they want to allow future governors to be recalled for office. That was put on the ballot in last year's session.

Here's a rundown of constitutional amendments that missed the mark this year.

Redistricting reform

A partisan stalemate blocked competing proposals for changing how legislative districts are drawn.

Republicans backed House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 56 and Senate Joint Resolution 104. The so-called Fair Map Amendment would have allowed a commission to redraw legislative district maps, instead of lawmakers. Democrats blocked them from moving ahead in the legislature.

The Fair Map Coalition failed to collect around 280,000 signatures needed to get the measure on the ballot through a citizen initiative. The group said they were 100,000 signatures short of the goal.

"We don't want to hang it up, but we're out of time," said Jan Czarnik, executive director of the Illinois League of Women Voters.

House Republican Leader Tom Cross said the coalition should be "commended for their efforts" in "bringing forward true reform to the state's redistricting system."

A Democratic-backed measure advanced further in the legislature but couldn't clear a final hurdle.

Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 121 would allow lawmakers to draw legislative maps but would change the process if a stalemate occurred.

The measure was approved in the Senate, but fell short of approval in the House.

"For him to make a general statement with no specificity of any shortcoming on the day that it was being deliberated is unconscionable," he said. "If you're not sure, just keep your trap shut."

Judicial eligibility

Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 120 would have changed the eligibility requirements for state judges. The measure would require attorneys to practice at least 10 years before running for circuit judge, 12 years for appellate judge and 15 years for the Supreme Court.

Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, said an amendment that reduced the subcircuit judge requirement from 10 years to five years was one of the main reasons the bill stalled in the Senate.

"We just ran out of time to deal with it," he said.

Harmon said he had reservations about the amendment after criticism from the Illinois State Bar Association. He said he plans to call the measure again next year.

House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, attempted to push a similar amendment that fell short in a House vote. Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said he was unaware if he would introduce House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 57 next session.

Madigan also failed to pass a resolution that would have eliminated the lieutenant governor position. House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 50 did not see a vote in the House.

The amendment was filed after Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Scott Lee Cohen dropped out of the race amid personal troubles. Lawmakers instead approved a bill that would have the governor and lieutenant governor nominees run together in primary elections.

Crime victims rights

A proposal to allow crime victims to enforce their rights in court did not make it out of the House.

House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 19 would allow victims to pursue court action to uphold their rights and allow them to be more involved in post-judgment proceedings.

Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, who sponsored the bill, said he would try to move the amendment again next session after Republican opposition spiked it this year.

"I think it's very clear the Republican Party had a political statement this year, and in the effort to make that political statement, some ideas that had nothing to do with politics disappeared," Lang said.

Progressive income tax

Rep. Mike Smith, D-Canton, advocated switching Illinois to the progressive income tax, instead of the current 3 percent flat tax.

The measure got to the House floor two years ago, but this year it stalled in a House Revenue and Finance Committee.